Funeral car



R. D. EHRET FUNERAL GAR Jan. 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1965 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. EHRET ATTORNEYS R. D. EHRET FUNERAL CAR Jan. 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13, 1965 INVENTOR. ROBERT D, EHE'ET H TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,228,721 FUNERAL CAR Robert D. Ehret, Stop 30, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico Filed June 13, 1963, Ser. No. 287,564 Claims. (Cl. 296--16) The present invention relates to funeral cars, i.e. hearses which can also be used as a flower car, a combined flower and casket car, an ambulance and as a service car. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial Number 100,915, filed April 5, 1961, now abandoned, and entitled Funeral Car.

The general trend toward more elaborate funerals seems to be on the wane and the average family is now practicing economy in the interment of their dead. Accordingly, funeral cars are becoming less ornate, and perhaps, more practical, in line with the demand for lower overhead and expense. However, there seems to be a limit as to how much retrenchment a funeral director can afford to make because a funeral car must retain at least the minimum amount of dignity in reflecting the proper respect for the departed.

Funeral homes and undertakers need several types of cars, not only for processional work in carrying the casket but also as flower cars which precede the casket. Service ears for transporting empty caskets to the home must be available and on occasion, directors are called upon to furnish emergency ambulance service. To have available the differently styled cars to perform these various services, requires considerable investment and garage space.

In certain countries such as Puerto Rico where flowers are plentiful throughout most of the year, it has been the practice to have one or more flower cars precede the hearse and the flowers are exposed where they can be readily seen to lend some attractiveness to the procession in contrast to the somberness of the casket car, the interior of which cannot usually be viewed by those watching the procession go by. Any flowers placed upon the casket or those contained in closed cars preceding the hearse and in which the flowers are not openly exposed, are not usually seen by the many who are interested in the funeral procession and only by the few who may attend the interment.

The general object of the invention is to provide a funeral car which will have more than the one processional use but which can serve not only as a hearse or casket car, showing off the casket to the greatest advantage, but can simultaneously be used as a flower car in which the flowers can be readily seen and appreciated by those watching the funeral cortege.

Another object is to provide a car which can be effectively used as a hearse, or as a combined casket and flower car, or solely as a flower car with the desirable change in styling for each service being performed. When used as a combined casket and flower car or solely as a flower car, the flowers as well as the casket are shown to their best possible advantage which is consistent with the manner in which certain countries, such as Puerto Rico venerate their dead.

Still another object is to provide a funeral car which will perform many services in connection with funeral work and when employed as a hearse will express the utmost dignity and respect for the deceased and yet will be instantly available to perform the allied services necessary in connection with the preparation of the funeral.

Other objects and features will be apparent as the specification is perused in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the improved funeral car;

3,228,721 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 FIGURE 2 represents a sectional view taken along line 22 in FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed view in section of a suitable joint between the transparent portion of the car and the metal body portion;

FIGURE 4 represents a partial longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2 and showing some of the details of the upper portion of the improved car body;

FIGURE 5 depicts an exploded view, partly in section, of the canopy of the improved funeral car and its immediately associated juncture elements;

FIGURE 6 is a detail, in section, of the joint between the canopy and the metal top portions of the car. This view is taken at about line 66 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view showing a modified form of the junction illustrated in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of the improved funeral car showing diagrammatically the manner in which the canopy, transparent or opaque, is slid into place along tracks furnished on the car;

FIGURE 9 represents a sectional view taken along line 99 in FIGURE 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a part of the opaque and transparent coverings over the car, and specifically, in which the transparent canopy is positioned on the outside of the opaque cover- FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 but showing the opaque canopy on the outside of the transparent covering;

FIGURE 12 shows in perspective the transparent insert which is used as a covering over the car;

FIGURE 13 is an elevational view of the car, somewhat similar to FIGURE 1, but in which one or both coverings extend along the car from the front door to the extreme rear end of the car. In FIGURE 1 the Plexiglas canopy extends only as far as the rear metal top portion of the car; and

FIGURE 14 represents a perspective view of an opaque covering that can be used either on the inside or outside of the transparent covering shown in FIGURE 12.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES l and 2, reference character 1 indicates generally the chassis of a luxury automobile or the station wagon type, but which finds no exact counterpart on the present-day market. The body includes the usual front and rear wheels, 2 and 2a respectively, also front side fender 3 and the rear side fender 4, hood 5 andwindshield 6, together with one or more typical windshield wipers 7 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; the fender 4 extends upwardly about one-half the height of the car. The automobile is provided with the usual front and rear doors 8 and 9 at each side, the front door opening to the drivers position indicated generally at 10. The body, as illustrated, provides front side windows 11, also swingable ventilating windows 12 and a typical rear window 13 (as indicated in FIGURE 1). Since the body can be of the station wagon type, the rear end can be provided with a pivoted flap-like door 14, having a rear window 13 which is adapted to be moved downwardly by hand or power. Consequently, assuming that the window has been rolled down into the rear door, the latter can be pulled downwardly on its hinge to leave the entire end portion of the body open for the reception of a casket or flowers as will be explained hereinafter. It will be understood that the rear door 9 can also be opened to give access to the interior of the funeral car if desired.

As shown, particularly in FIGURE 2, there is a heavy 9 metal plate forming part of the frame of the car and extending from the rear end of the car to the front end just short of the position where the engine is located under the hood 5.. The usual cross beams and I-sections (not shown) to complete the mainframeof the car are employed so that the automobile is quite sturdy.

In accordance with one of the features of my invention, I propose to provide a secondary plate or plat-- form 16 separated from the main frame plate 15 by, for example, a suitably positioned I-beam 17. This auxiliary plate 16 has a length extending from the rear end of the car to a position just behind the drivers seat 10 and is provided for the purpose of supporting the casket 18. This plate 16 is supported at its longitudinal edges by being provided with upwardly extending ridges 19 leaving a space 20 between each ridge and a similarly shaped ridge 21 on the main frame member 15, which space may be filled by a long block of substance such as hard rubber having a certain amount of resiliency. In general, the height of the secondary or casket-supporting platform 16 is such that a large part of the casket can be seen over the body portion 4 and the half-door 9.

It will be understood that the metal portion 21a of the body extends above the fender and over the top of the automobile from the rear of the car to a position indicated at 22, possibly eighteen inches along the car toward thefront; Thus, the extreme end of the car has metal up the sides and over the top from the position 22 to the rear position except for the large rear window, which can be rolled down into the swingable door. While I have shown and described a particular type of rear door having a rolled down window, it will be understood that any other form of door can be used which will allow full access to the interior of the car.

At the forward end of the car the metal likewise extends across the side doors 8 and over the top as indicated at 23 as far as the position 24 and except for the side windows 11 and 12 and the windshield 6.

In accordance with a feature of my invention, I close the space between the positions 22 and 24 by a transparent covering or insert 25, preferably made of glass or a plastic, such as Plexiglas. This covering extends from approximately the mid-height position indicated at 26 on the body (including the doors 9) up over the sides and the top 27. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, the transparent covering takes a concave shape and is bent or otherwise formed to approximately the same shape as the met-a1 portions 21a and 23 of the body. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 1, the transparent or plastic member extends over a large portion of the body and inasmuch as the shape conforms to the front and rear metal portions there is no distraction from the exquisite lines or appearance of the car, which is preferably of the highest price range.

In FIGURE 3, a weather-proof and relatively inexpensive joint is shown which can be employed in bringing the lower edges of the plastic covering 25 to the lower metal portions along the line. 26. As illustrated, the metal body or fender 4 is given a curved shape as indicated at 28 to prevent any sharp edges and is pointed downwardly to provide a flat angularly-extending portion 29, which is located inside the body. The plastic side portion is contained within a U-shaped rubber stfip 30. The latter is held in position by an L-shaped slat 31 having an inwardly turned lip 32a and which extends about two sides of the rubber strip 30. The remaining side of the box-shaped member is completed by a second L-shaped element 32 of metal, somewhat longer than the other member 31 and having an inwardly extending lip 33. Thebase of theL-shaped member, 32 extends over the inside surface of the flat portion 29 so that by providing a screw 35 which threads into the flat portion 29, the entire box-like structure can be held rigidly in place on the extension 29 of the metal side member. The rubher strip 30 serves to water-proof the joint between the plastic member 25 and the metal side member. It will be understood that inasmuch as the box-like joint extends continuously along the line 26 and between the vertical positions 22 and'24, the side door 9 at each side would normally be locked. However, if desired, a break in the box-like joint may be provided at the position 36 to retain the accessibility provided by the door 9.

The joints indicated at the positions 22 and 24 may be of the character illustrated in FIGURE 6 wherein the metal top member is joined in a water-proof manner to the plastic covering 25 by means of a T-shaped metal strip indicated at 36 and having an outwardly extending lip 37. This lip preferably is screwed into the metal portion as indicated at 38. A plate 39 is screwed, as indicated at 49, into the web of the T-shaped member 36 to leave a slot for the reception of a U-s'haped rubber strip 40 which embraces the plastic cover 25. It will be understood that the metal members 36 and 40 of this figure and also the strips 31, 32 and 34 of FIGURE 3 are preferably chrome-plated for appearance and to prevent rust.

While I have shown the juncture at the position 22, FIGURE 1, between the metal and the plastic portions, a similar form of box structure, completely water-proof, can be employed at the junction indicated at 24 but with the parts reversed. As stated hereinbefore, the juncture elements shown and described in connection with FIG- URE 6 extend up the sides of the body from the line 26 and over the top, the rear junction line extending at a rearward angle as indicated at 41 in order to conform to the lines of the body.

While I have described in connection with FIGURE 6 the feature of joining the metal front and rear portions of the body to the plastic covering in which these portions and the covering are substantially in line with one another, it may be preferable from the cost standpoint to have the plastic edges overlap and be joined to the edges of. the metal portions. A joint of this type is exemplified in FIGURE 7 where the metal portion is indicated at 21a and the plastic cover at 25 so that they overlap over the distance indicated at 41. An S-shaped metal strip 42, preferably chrome-plated, is screwed as indicated at 43 to the metal portion 21a and extends around the top of the body at positions 22 and 24. A rubber strip 45 can be inserted between the metal member 42 and the plastic cover 25 so that by tightening the screw 43 the cover and the metal part are held tightly together in a water-proof manner.

It will be understood that the secondary platform 16 (FIGURE 2). is placed at such a height that the larger portion of the casket and any flowers indicated at 44 can bereadily seen through the transparent cover 25, at each side of the car. Consequently, the elegance of the casket and the beauty of the flowers can be continually appreciated from the time that the car leaves the funeral service and passes through the streets until the moment when the casket is taken from the car for interment. Greater respect is, therefore, paid to the deceased person without ostentation and this is particularly advantageous where the person was a public figure and the populace would gather along the streets to watch the funeral procession go by. Prior to my invention, it was, and still is the custom to construct and arrange the funeral car in such a way that very little, if any, of the casket could be seen from the outside. However, with the advent of this new and improved type of funeral car, greater emphasis will be placed upon the body of the person contained in the casket, due to the beauty of the casket and its unique design which may be made to conform to the character of the deceased person.

While I have shown and described the improved funeral car as containing a casket with floral tributes on top, it is apparent that the car is also admirably suited as a flower car since practically all of the flowers con- '3 tained in the car can be seen and appreciated by passers-by.

It will be understood that, if desired, member 25 may be extended beyond the position 22 and taken as far as the rear window. In other words, the entire top portion of the body above the line 26 at each side and to the left of the joint 24 (FIGURE 1) would be made of a transparent material such as a suitable plastic, bent or otherwise formed to the approximate shape of the metal body portion 2. In this case, the entire length of the upper portion of the casket could then be seen from the exterior, and accordingly, the joint positions 22 and 41 would be eliminated.

In accordance with another aspect of my invention, particularly in providing a car which uses the same chassis but will perform the service of a hearse, or a combined hearse and flower car, in addition to serving as a flower car and an ordinary service car for transporting supplies to and from the funeral home, the remaining FIGURES 8 to 14 show a car, that with readily made changes can be used for all of these purposes. FIGURE 8 shows a car chassis similar to FIGURE 1 but with a new and improved rear end of the body by which a transparent covering or canopy can be readily placed in position to show the contents of the automobile or to hide the contents if desired by an opaque covering.

The body includes the usual front and rear wheels, also the front side fender 3 and the rear side fender 4, the hood 5 and windshield 6. The automobile is provided with the usual front and rear doors 8 and 9 at each side. There is a metal top 46 extending over the front portion of the car as far as the rear edge of the front side window 47, this top portion terminating in a U-shaped metal frame 48 which extends downwardly as far as the upper edge of the fender 4. The U-shaped frame member is provided with one or more centrally positioned grooves (not shown) which extend around the entire member to furnish a temporary joint for the front edge of a transparent covering 50. As explained in connection with FIGURE 1, this covering may be formed of an inverted trapezoidal-shaped member, made fairly thin, but rugged, of transparent plastic material sold under the name Plexiglas. The insert has side members 51, 52, and its length is such as to extend from the rear of the car to the frame member 48. Canopies of this length and shape can be readily formed in presses while the plastic is in a soft condition and upon hardening the covering becomes quite rigid and relatively hard. In order to support the covering lengthwise, I provide a pair of grooved members or tracks 53 (FIGURE which are supported on and secured to the upper edge of the fender portion 4 by welding or any other suitable manner. The grooved members take on a double U-shape. The outer U groove on both sides of the car supports the lower edges of the side members or panels 51, 52. Thus, when the transparent covering 50 has been slid lengthwise along the outer groove portion of member 53 into position, the interior of the car can be readily seen by those interested in the funeral cortege. In case the hearse contains a casket with flowers on the top, the entire casket, which may be of an ornate and specially designed character can also be viewed by the onlooker, as well as the flowers on top.

It will be understood that the covering 5%) is held detachaoly but firmly in position by being fitted in the outer portion of the grooved member 53 and detachably held at the end nearer to the front of the car by means of the grooved frame member 48. If desired, rubber strips 54 (FIGURE 10) may be provided around the outer groove of the member 53 in order resiliently to hold the Plexiglas covering in place as well as to provide a water-proof joint at this position. Normally, the covering 50 is left permanently in place after it has initially been slid in position along the grooved member 53.

In case the car is to be used for non-hearse work such as an ambulance, or as a service car in which there should be no view of the inside of the car, I have, according to my invention, provided an opaque covering indicated at 55 on FIGURE 14. This opaque covering may be formed of any light, rugged material which can be shaped to a form similar to that shown in FIGURE 12, but of a width and depth slightly smaller than the Plexiglas covering. The covering 55 could also be made of Plexiglas which had been chemically treated as by dyes to render the material absolutely opaque or at least translucent so that light can still go through without rendering the interior of the car visible to the public. The covering might also be formed of cloth material stretched over a suitable frame and treated in any suitable and well-known manner to stitfen the cloth if desired.

Instead of having the entire width and top of the covering 55 opaque or even translucent, I may, if desired, provide a transparent top but leave the sides opaque so that light or sunshine will reach the interior of the car through the top portion. I may also use an opaque top and allow light or sunshine to reach the interior through transparent or translucent sides. It will be understood that the inside opaque covering 55 will extend lengthwise as far as the transparent covering 50, and if desired, may be held in poistion at the end nearer the drivers seat by providing a double groove (not shown) around the frame member 48 into which the outer cover is similarly fitted and held in position. The lower edge of the inside covering member 55 may fit snugly into a groove forming a part of the double U-shaped member or track 53. The opaque or translucent cover 55 can be slid along the tracks and introduced from the rear end of the car as will be explained hereinafter. It is used mainly when the car is to be employed as an ambulance or as a service or utility car. Most sick people, invalids, etc. do not like to have others peer at them through the sides of the car when being transported to the hospital. It is at this time that the covering 55 is slid into position to convert the car into an ambulance. For the convenience of the occupants, I may provide at each side, a pair of upright frame members 56 for supporting tubular bars 57. The patient can hold on to these bars. As seen in FIG- URE 9, a shelf 58 running lengthwise of the car and forming part of the under-carriage, may be provided for holding flowers or potted plants, as indicated in FIGURE 9, in the event that only the transparent cover 51 is used to show the flowers. This shelf may be welded or otherwise secured to the fender member 4 at a position near the top edge thereof.

Instead of placing the opaque or translucent covering .on the inside of the transparent covering, I may reverse .the position of these two coverings as seen in FIGURE 11.

In this case, the transparent covering or insert, indicated at 50, is on the inside of the opaque or translucent insert 55. It is sometimes easier to apply the opaque covering or insert to the outside of the transparent covering than vice versa. In this modified structure, the opaque and transparent coverings are held at the lower elongated edges by means of a grooved member or track 59 (FIG- URE 11), the vertical legs of which are in a somewhat different position than those of the grooved member 53. The grooves at the frame member 48 will also be in a different position to accommodate the positions of the respective coverings. These members may, as in the case of the members 53, be welded or otherwise secured to the upper edges of the fenders 4. It is obvious that the shape of the grooves in the frame member 48 would be modified to accommodate the alternative arrangement of the parts 50, 55. It will be noted, with respect to FIG- URES 10 and 11, that the transparent and opaque coverings or inserts are of different thickness. This is because the opaque insert can be made of more rugged material than the transparent insert and for that reason does not need the same thickness.

FIGURE 13 shows the use of one or both of the coverings St), 55 as extending over the full length of the car from the extreme rear to a position corresponding to the joint 60 between the rear edge of the front door 8 and the front edge of the rear door 9. They extend as far as the position 24 which may constitute an inverted U- shaped member which is provided with one or more grooves (not shown) to accommodate the inner edges of either or both'of the coverings.

In order more readily to slide the coverings 50, 55 into position along the tracks 53, 59, I provide an improved form of rear door by which the latter can be opened up wide and high, as to be'entirely out of the way of the inserts when the latter are being pushed into position along their tracks. This improved form of door is shown more clearly in FIGURE 8. The rear end of the car body above the fender line is tapered back, and terminates in an inverted U-shaped member 61. The portion of the body below the upper edge of the fender extends vertically downward as seen in the figure, and positioned to one side there are the usual stop and-brake lights (not shown). The tracks 53 extend inwardly as far as the length of either or both of the coverings and are brought out to the extreme rear end of the car.

Secured to the frame member 61 there is a pair of pivoted bars 62 terminating at the top in a swivable joint 63 which supports the arms 64. These arms are attached to the inside surface of the lower portion of a door 65 which when closed, fits snugly against the lower vertical opening at the rear of the car. The rest of the door represented by the angularly extending portion 65a is sup ported by an inwardly positioned hinge 66 to which is swingably attached an arm 67. The latter is swivelly connected to the upright 62 at a position below the joint 63. The angularity of the door portion 65a is such that when the door is swung by means of its arms 64, 67 to its downward position the door will fit snugly against the frame member 61 and will close off the rear opening in the body. However, when the door is swung upwardly as far as it will go as seen in FIGURE 8, this will open up the entire interior from top to bottom and from side to side of the body of the car and will-leave the tracks exposed from the rear so that the transparent covering and its companion covering when used, can'be slid along the tracks under the horizontal portion of the frame member 61 and as far as the forward frame member 48. It will be understood that the tracks extend only between positions at the rear edge of the member 48 and the inside edge of the frame member 61. Likewise, the length of the coverings is limited to the length of the tracks and the outer ends of the coverings are tapered off so as not to project beyond the ends of the frame member 61. As stated hereinbefore, the transparent covering is usually left permanently in position, and its transparency when used as a hearse is destroyed by applying the opaque or translucent insert 55 to the interior of the transparent member. It is apparent that the rear door opening and the distance between the arms 64 are of sufficient size as to permit the entry of each-insert 50', 55 or both so as to be slid onto the track structure.

It is apparent that the rear door opening and swinging mechanism including-the arms 64 and 67 are sufficiently thin, and fit closely together, as to be received loosely between the outside surface of each side wall 51, 52of the transparent insert and the inside surface of the opaque covering. There is, therefore, no obstruction to the free movement of either insert along its track when the'door is open and the arms do not interfere with one another when the door is closed.

From the foregoing, itis evident that I have described an all-purpose car but constructed more particularly for use as a hearse or casket car but capable of a more general, use in the interest of economy, and without losing the :dignity which the public has the right to expect in a funeral car. The car can .be optionally and gainfully used'not only as a hearse in which the casket and any floral offerings on the casket can be readily seen from the street, but also as a flower car which would normally precede the hearse and in which all of the flowers can be seen to advantage during the funeral procession. My improved car may also be employed as an ambulance in which case an opaque covering or insert is provided, optionally on the inside or on the outside of the transparent covering and detachably supported on tracks when the car is to be used as an ambulance. By placing the opaque covering outside of the transparent insert and still supported on the tracks, the carcan be used as a service or utiiitycar which would have little or no similarity of appearance to a hearse or a flower car. In view of the weight and the somewhat awkwardness of attaching and detaching the various inserts or coverings, I have provided tracks running along the sides of the car together with a rear door that will open sufficiently wide and high as to receive one or both coverings so that-either of the latter can be removed from the'car by simply opening the rear door and sliding the member in a direction toward the rear of thecar along the tracks. Thus, a funeral director is placed in the position of having a car which is of general utility, even though primarily designed as a hearse,

and 'in which the conversion-of the car from one use to the other would give appearances unlike one another so that in effect he will have available a car of several types of designs even using the same chassis.

It will be understood that various modifications and arrangements in structure could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and, accordingly, I desire to comprehend such modifications and substitutions of equivalent-s as may be considered to come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hearse fortransporting a casket and provided with an optionally used transparent and opaque covering extending from the rear of the drivers seat to substantially the end of the hearse, said hearse comprising a metal automobile car body mountedon wheels and having top and side portions, also a rear metal body portion which is adapted to be opened the full Width and height of the body to provide access for the casket, a forward metal body portion for housing the driver, .a rigid transparent body-portion extending betweensaid front and rear metal body portions and forming a continuation thereof, said transparent body portion extending from the lower sides of the .car and over the top thereof whereby to display substantially the entire casket, and an opaque covering of substantially the same shape and length as the said transparent body portion and positioned adjacent to said transparent body portion to render said portion opaque .as seen from the exterior of'the hearse, tracks positioned .at each side of the hearse and within the hearse for supporting said transparent body and opaque covering, along which they are adapted to be s'lid through'the open rear door into position, one within the other and movable with respect to one another.

2. An all-purpose car for use as a hearse, flower car,

ambulance and service car, said car having a transparent covering over substantially the length of the car except at the passenger carrying positions, a detachable opaque covering extending over the entire area of the transparent covering but spaced therefrom, and tracks extending along the sides of the car and within the car for receiving the lower edges of each of the coverings, a rear door on said car which is adapted to open the full width and height of the car, said coverings being adapted to be slid into position through the open door and along said-tracks.

3. An all-purpose car for use as a hearse, flower car,

ambulance and service car, said car having a transparent covering over the length of the car except at-the passenger carrying positions, a detachable opaque covering extending throughout the entire area of the transparent covering, tracks extending along the length ofthe car at a position about mid-way of the height of the car body to receive the lower edges of each of the coverings, and an end door which opens for the full width and height of the car body in order to receive the coverings as t-hey are being slid along the tracks into position.

4. An all-purpose car for use as a hearse, flower car, ambulance and service car, said car having an automobile chassis including a metal body and doors which extend approximately one-half the height of the car to leave the upper portion of the body open from the rear of the drivers position to substantially the rear of the car, means for supporting a formed covering over the upper portion of the body and across the top of the car, said covering being supported on tracks extending lengthwise of the car and positioned approximately at the line of the upper edges of said doors, said covering comprising two units, one of which is transparent and the other opaque, said units being positioned one within the other but spaced apart, tracks extending along the sides of the car and within the car for carrying said covers, a rear door on said car which is adapted to open the full Width and height of the interior of the car, the covers being pushed through the open door and slid along the tracks to their final position on the car.

5. An ali-purpose car in which the interior can be viewed from the exterior but optionally cause the interior to be hidden from view when desired, said car having a transparent covering over substantially the entire length of the car, except at the passenger carrying positions, a detachable opaque covering extending along the entire References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 765,124 7/1904 Bublitz 296-21 1,726,854 9/1929 Mumford 160-113 X 2,009,445 7/1935 Gould 296-137 2,373,214 4/1945 Wolkenhauer 296-137 X 2,454,566 11/1948 Pfeiifer 296-16 X 2,596,309 3/1952 Urich 296-137 2,666,666 1/1954 Schneider 296-16 2,803,490 8/1957 Ehret 296-16 OTHER REFERENCES SAE Journal, March 1949, p. 147.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

A. HARRY LEVY, MILTON BUCHLER, Examiners. 

1. A HEARSE FOR TRANSPORTING A CASKET AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPTIONALLY USED TRANSPARENT AND OPAQUE COVERING EXTENDING FROM THE REAR OF THE DRIVER''S SEAT TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE END OF THE HEARSE, SAID HEARSE COMPRISING A METAL AUTOMOBILE CAR BODY MOUNTED ON WHEELS AND HAVING TOP AND SIDE PORTIONS, ALSO A REAR METAL BODY PORTION WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE OPENED THE FULL WIDTH AND HEIGHT OF THE BODY TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR THE CASKET, A FORWARD METAL BODY PORTION FOR HOUSING THE DRIVER, A RIGID TRANSPARENT BODY PORTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND REAR METAL BODY PORTIONS AND FORMING A CONTINUATION THEREOF, SAID TRANSPARENT BODY PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE LOWER SIDES OF THE CAR AND OVER THE TOP THEREOF WHEREBY TO DISPLAY SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE CASKET, AND AN OPAQUE COVERING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SHAPE AND LENGTH AS THE SAID TRANSPARENT BODY PORTION AND POSITIONED ADJACENT TO SAID TRANSPARENT BODY PORTION TO RENDER SAID PORTION OPAQUE AS SEEN FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE HEARSE, TRACKS POSITIONED AT EACH SIDE OF THE HEARSE AND WITHIN THE HEARSE FOR SUPPORTING SAID TRANSPARENT BODY AND OPAQUE COVERING, ALONG WHICH THEY ARE ADAPTED TO BE SLID THROUGH THE OPEN REAR DOOR INTO POSITION, ONE WITHIN THE OTHER AND MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER. 